Wood stopper.



PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

\ s. BUFFET.

WOOD STOPPER.

UNITE STATES PATENT OF ICE.

STANLEY RUFFIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

WOOD STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,659, dated January 20, 1903.

Application filed February 2'7, 1902. Serial No. 95,954. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STANLEY RUFFIN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wood Stoppers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in wood stoppers for use in bottles and all necked vessels, the object being to provide a cheap and easily-constructed stopper which can be readily and quickly applied to the neck of a vessel and when in position will be securely locked therein against accidental displacement due either to pressure from within or in handling; and with this end in view my invention consists in the details of construction, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of my improvement in position in a bottle. Fig. 2 is a view in section of the stopper,and Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the two parts detached or disconnected.

1 represents the stopper made of two sections, the outer wooden section 2 being provided centrally with a bore extending throughout the length of same for the passage of the plug or bung 3. This plug is made of soft wood with the grain running, preferably, transverse of its length and is more or less tapered, the extent of the taper being dependent largely on the character of the use to which the stopper is to be put. If it is to be used in sealing liquids containing a gas or where a very tight fit is essential, the plug should be tapered; but if to be used in sealing vessels in which there is no internal pressure the plug may be cylindrical or approximately cylindrical. In practice I compress this plug before inserting it in the body or section 2 of the stopper, so that in expanding it completely and effectually closes the bore in said body and also expands the body 2 against the inner surface of the neck.

The body or section 2 of the stopper is provided, preferably, with an integral milled head 4, or, if desired, it may have a square or an gular head. When the stopper is to be removed by hand, I prefer the rounded milled head; but in vessels where the stopper must be secured so tightly that its removal cannot be conveniently effected by the hands I prefer to use the angular head, as the latter can be more readily engaged by the extractor employed in removing the stopper. The lower end of this body 2 of the stopper is provided with a plurality of slits 5, extending from the lower end well up the body, sufficient material being removed in forming'the slits to enable the body to contract sufficiently to readily enter the neck of the vessel. This body 2 is of slightly larger or greater diameter at its lower free end than it is at any point above. Hence when it is forced into position in the neck of the vessel the tapering bore thereof is contracted at its lower free end, thus obstructing to a certain degree the entrance of the plug,which latter is constructed to snugly fit the bore when the latter is in its normal expanded condition.

The plug is approximately the same length as the body and its head, and when the parts are in place the plug is flush with the upper surface of the head.

To apply the stopper to a bottle or other vessel, the plug is removed from the body of the stopper, and owing to the flexibility of the sides of the latter, due to the central bore and slotted side walls, the body can be readily and quickly inserted in the neck of the vessel. The plug, preferably in a compressed condition, is then inserted in the bore of the body and forced inwardly until the body of the stopper is securely locked in place, the closeness of contact between the body of the stopper and the neck manifestly depending on the pressure exerted in forcing in the plug.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A stopper for necked vessels comprising a removable body slotted atits lower end and having a head and a central bore, and a removable headless plug fitting the bore.

2. A stopper for necked vessels comprising a removable body having a central bore and a slotted lower end, and a tapering headless plug fitting the bore.

3. Astopper for necked vessels, comprising a removable body having a straight and smooth exterior surface, the lower end of said body being ofgreater diameter than the upper end, the said body having a longitudinal bore and slotted at its lower end, and a removable plug adapted to be forced into said bore, and expand the lower end of the body.

grain at right angles to its longitudinal axis;

the said plug or bung fitting within the bore and expanding the lower end of the body.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STANLEY RUFFIN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. HALL ADAMS, FRANCIS W. MoGURTY. 

